Arsenal launch black culture exhibit at UCL East

Arsenal Football Club last night celebrated the launch of a dedicated new Arsenal installation within UCL East’s 'Music is Black Festival', exploring the club’s enduring relationship with Black culture, music and community.

As Arsenal reflects on a historic season that delivered its first Premier League title in 22 years, the installation provides a timely opportunity to celebrate the sense of pride and belonging that unites Arsenal’s communities. These values were vividly reflected throughout last week’s Champions Parade, where supporters from Islington and around the world came together in celebration. Music played a central role in expressing that togetherness – with artists Sammy Virji and Femi Koleoso DJ’ing at the heart of the parade’s celebrations – helping to create memorable shared experiences that reflect Arsenal’s cultural significance beyond the game.

Bringing together voices from football, music, fashion and academia, the evening explored Arsenal’s unique place within Black British cultural life and how the club’s influence has extended beyond football into music, fashion, culture and community for generations.

Hosted by Academic-in-Residence Dr Clive Nwonka, author of the acclaimed book ‘Black Arsenal’, and chaired by former Olympian and broadcaster Jeanette Kwakye MBE, the panel featured Arsenal legend Anita Asante; LABRUM London founder Foday Dumbuya, who collaborated with Arsenal and adidas on the club’s 2024/25 Africa-inspired away kit, and Ghanaian-British afrobeats producer, DJ and musician, Juls, who composed the music for the kit’s launch film.

The discussion also explored how generations of Black players, supporters and creatives have helped shape Arsenal's identity, redefining representation in English football and establishing the club as a cultural force extending into music, fashion and everyday life.

Sharing their thoughts on Arsenal’s enduring bond with the communities at the heart of the club, the panellists reflected on the relationships, moments and experiences that have shaped its legacy:

Arsenal legend Anita Asante said: "When you see yourself and your community reflected in these players, you see yourself represented on the pitch. You also see the freedom they have to express themselves beyond the game."

DJ & musician Juls said: "Arsenal is always around me when I'm creating because it represents so much of who I am. I want to support the club, because it makes me feel part of a community, part of a family."

Labrum Founder, Foday Dumbuya said: "We're far away from home, but North London is everywhere in Africa. The fact that we shot the collection for Arsenal’s 24/25 away kit in my hometown in Sierra Leone shows just how far this club and its culture stretch around the world."

Arsenal’s installation forms part of UCL East’s The Music is Black Festival exhibition celebrating 25 years of Black music-making in Britain, which explores the creativity, resilience and global influence of Black British music and culture through immersive sound experiences, multimedia installations and more than 120 tracks spanning generations.

The club’s contribution features a mural first showcased at Emirates Stadium that traces Arsenal’s Black history, alongside a selection of player shirts and memorabilia from the club’s history.

Also on display is a curated selection of the club’s recent video content celebrating the influence of Black culture, music and storytelling within football. Taking visitors on an immersive journey, the exhibition moves from musical moments, including the club’s collaborations with Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso welcoming Martin Zubimendi and Arsenal Women’s Olivia Smith to the club, through to the award-winning film bringing together Eberechi Eze and Arsenal legend Ian Wright, and in-depth conversations with Noni Madueke, Taylor Hinds and Black Arsenal editor, Dr Clive Nwonka exploring the history, stories and inspirations behind this special relationship.

The Black Arsenal installation is now open at UCL East as part of The Music is Black Festival, running until January 2027.

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